Betting Tips for Today: First half unlikely to see much action when Real Valladolid host Villarreal

Real Valladolid and Villarreal meet at Estadio Jose Zorrilla in a crucial La Liga relegation six-pointer on Friday night.

Victory for the hosts would see them move up to 11th and five points clear of the relegation zone, whilst a win for 19th-placed Villarreal would take them to within two points of Girona in 17th.

888Sport actually make the visitors slight 11/8 (2.37) favourites with Valladolid 39/20 (2.95) and the draw available at 23/10 (3.30).

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Both sides will be desperate for the points considering they have mustered just three wins between them since October 21, but the value bet lies in the goals market.

Scoring in La Liga has been a problem for both sides as it is, with no team netting fewer than Valladolid’s 19 and Villarreal’s 23 being the fourth-fewest, and under 0.5 first half goals at 9/5 (2.80) looks a solid bet.

These two sides have scored just 10 first half goals in La Liga this campaign, the fewest amount of any combination of teams,

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The hosts have managed just one goal in the first half of matches in front of their own fans this term, which came on October 7, and have netted just 10 times at home all season.

Villarreal, similarly, have managed just 10 goals away from Estadio de la Ceramica, with only four teams scoring less on the road, with just three of those coming in the opening period.

Despite misfiring attacks, defence has not been a huge issue for this pair with only one bottom half team conceding fewer than Valldolid’s 27 goals this season. Villarreal, meanwhile, have shipped just 31.

Another bland first half looks to be in the offing so it is 888Sport’s 9/5 (2.80) price for under 0.5 first half goals that appeals the most ahead of this vital match.

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